Chess Puzzle #BQFc7 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1470 · Intermediate · long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen e4; rook e1; bishops d4/g2; pawns a2/c3/f4/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen b6; rooks d8/h8; bishop c5; pawns a6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd4 — bishop c5→d4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e4→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Bd5+ — bishop g2→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd5 (rook d8→d5, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qe8# — queen e7→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k1r/6pp/pq3p2/2b5/3BQP2/2P3P1/P5BP/4R2K b - - 1 31

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.